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The Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi held its annual Maple Leaf Ball (MLB) on Saturday, 12 March 2022 at the Bab Al Qasr Hotel. The event gathered prominent members of Emirati and Canadian government and business community.
Mr. Dhia Hussain, Chairperson of CBC Abu Dhabi
From left to right: CBC Board of Directors and staff: Hani Abu Ghazaleh, CEO of Mental, Kim Jeffery, Consultant at Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT), Faiza Usman, Senior Vice President, Financial Planning & Business Performance at Mubadala Investment Company, Hans Fraikin, Abu Dhabi Film Commissioner, Dhia Hussain, Vice President, Sales and Marketing at M3 Marine Technology, Robyn Albers, Program Director MENA of Global Speech Academy, Katherine Verrier-Fréchette, Managing Director (MENA) of Awz Horizons Ltd. and Sheena Viado, CBC Operations Coordinator.
The event’s Master of Ceremony (MC) was Hans Fraikin, former Board Member and Abu Dhabi Film Commissioner who initiated the event by announcing the program for the evening with live music, four-course dinner, amazing prizes and silent auction items, courtesy of the following generous sponsors and donors. Silver sponsors: Air Canada, Abu Dhabi Grammar School (AGS) and PAL Aerospace; and Bronze sponsors, AWZ Ventures, CAE and CARA Jewellers.
The ball was attended by CBC Corporate members including the Embassy of Canada in the UAE, PAL Aerospace, CAE, Maplewood Canadian International School, and L3Harris Technologies. National anthems of the UAE and Canada were played. Students from the Sorbonne University Abu Dhabi also volunteered for the event. The evening was concluded with live entertainment by Big Mouth Band. A fantastic time was had by all!
CBC Abu Dhabi heartily thanks the generous sponsors, prize donors and supporting partners:
Please click here to view the MLB photos.
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About CBC
Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi is a membership-based organization that represents Canadian business people and companies in Canada and in the United Arab Emirates. CBC hosts many business events and supports its members to create business opportunities in the United Arab Emirates and in Canada through a wide network of relationships and contacts in both countries. CBC members include businesspeople that work in UAE-based companies as well as those representing Canadian companies both from Canada, and here in the UAE. CBC members share common interests in creating excellent business relations and to strengthen trade relations between the UAE and Canada. CBC Abu Dhabi – Creating Trusted Connections.
The Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi organized a webinar in collaboration with CAE about how CAE adapted to COVID-19 held on the 26th of August 2020. Mr. David Laliberte, Executive Director - Legal of Digital 14 LLC and moderator of the webinar thanked the participating councils, introduced CBC Abu Dhabi and the guest speakers – Mr. Thibaut Trancart, Regional Managing Director of CAE, and Iain Walsh, Strategy & Business Development Director of CAE.
Mr. Trancart began by introducing CAE saying it is a global training company with three business divisions: civil aviation, healthcare, defence and security. by training people to be better and more effective in their profession they aim to make air travel safer, prepare defence forces for missions and make healthcare safer. CAE has a long history of innovation, which was founded by Ken Patrick in 1947. The objective is to be globally local which means they are addressing the market from a local point of view. Regarding financial highlights, CAE has a high degree of recurring business that is why they are doing training. In addition, they have got strong competitive moat, headroom in large markets and a culture of innovation. CAE’s branch in the Middle East known for having a presence in civil aviation and has developed training systems for several military customers from Saudi Arabia, UAE, Oman and Kuwait.
Mr. Walsh mentioned flying today is 22 times safer than driving a car due to the quality of training CAE and others have provided. They use flight simulators to provide better training while protecting people’s lives. Regarding defence and security, they train aircrew, land personnel, naval personnel, maintenance crews and public safety & security personnel. They deliver training through training products, services and centers.
The focus on healthcare in correspondence with current COVID-19 epidemic: He mentioned a striking statistic about America saying how 440 thousands of people die every year because of medical error which stresses on the importance of healthcare training. In CAE, they use virtual reality technology and different simulations to train in different aspect of the medical sector. Moreover, CAE has a healthcare academy to provide more knowledge and training in products, consulting, needs analysis, services and curriculum.
Mr. Trancart talked about CAE challenges in response to COVID-19. He emphasized on the importance of business continuity matters to ensure smoother and safer operation to their customers from different sectors. Especially, customers from armed forces and healthcare fields, which require proceeding with the training in the current state. Since they are driven on innovation, they certainly aim to apply this in the way of working, and the way of interfacing with other people. They have applied remote learning, which provided a unique experience for operators and users. In addition, they have applied innovation around products. More importantly, the objective is to have the customers honour the CAE’s mission and their own mission. Mr. Walsh later on expanded on this and discussed how CAE operates with the current epidemic.
According to Mr. Walsh, only instructors and engineering staff are working normally whereas the majority is working from home. They expect 25% of their workforce to continue working from home even after the crisis is over. Also, there is an increased level of I.T. security assurance and business systems have transformed mostly virtually with online meetings. This change allowed thousands of people to attend their online meetings. Therefore, how they conduct business with clients has fundamentally changed. In regard to civil aviation challenges, this sector is impacted the most with COVID-19 since there was a drastic decrease in travels because of globally occurred restrictions. However, pilots still need training hence only essential training facilities remain open. About defence and security, they have followed strict safety protocols for used facilities to ensure post-session cleaning.
Mr. Walsh proceeds to discuss about healthcare sector saying they have provided simulated clinical environments, distance learning, free webinars and tool kits to prepare clinical facilities for COVID-19 challenges. Also, CAE has developed the Pathogens of High Consequences learning module and Suspected COVID-19 simulation to prepare clinical teams for safe communication and treatment with the patients. Afterwards, Walsh discussed CAEAir1 Mechanical Ventilator, which helps patients with respiratory insufficiency or failure. Finally, he emphasized how COVID-19 have impacted the nature of their business, operations, people’s processes which required change and innovation however they do have a secure financial base which foreshadows a positive future for them.
The webinar continued with Q&A.
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About the Canadian Business Council Abu Dhabi
The Canadian Business Council Abu Dhabi (CBC) promotes business relations, commerce and investment between Canada and the UAE with a particular focus on the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. We provide opportunities for Canadian business executives in the UAE to meet on a regular basis and to exchange information about business opportunities. As a link with organizations in Canada, CBC Abu Dhabi is dedicated to the development of trade and corporate investment between Canada and the UAE and assist Canadian companies and business people who are establishing or contemplating to establish a trading base in this country. www.cbcabudhabi.com
About
CAE is a global leader in training for the civil aviation, defence and security, and healthcare markets. Backed by a 70-year record of industry firsts, we continue to help define global training standards with our innovative virtual-to-live training solutions to make flying safer, maintain defence force readiness and enhance patient safety. We have the broadest global presence in the industry, with over 10,000 employees, 160 sites and training locations in over 35 countries. Each year, we train more than 220,000 civil and defence crewmembers, including more than 135,000 pilots, and thousands of healthcare professionals worldwide. https://www.cae.com/about-cae/
Maryam Almansoori, Intern, CBC Abu Dhabi
The Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi has hosted a webinar regarding Setting-up a Business in the UAE Post-covid on the 24th of August 2020. Awais Chughtai, Relationship Manager of CBC Abu Dhabi and moderator of the webinar introduced the topic by mentioning the main points of the discussion which are mainland setups, free zone setups, and visa updates. He then mentioned the partnering companies and introduced the guest speakers.
Jade Wong, Business Development Manager of PRO Partner Group started the presentation with background information about PRO. They are a corporate service provider of company formation and setup solutions established in 2010. Also, they offer services aimed to help entrepreneurs, companies and businesses to find their footing in the Middle East, particularly in the flourishing markets of GCC like UAE, Qatar and Oman.
Their different services are categorized under company formation, corporate sponsorship, PRO services, and other services. In terms of company formation, they provide several methods where foreign investors can set up their businesses in the UAE and Qatar. In addition, they are specialized in mainland and free zone company formation. Regarding corporate sponsorship, they offer Local Partner Service as a ‘Corporate Nominee Partner or entity’ rather than an individual sponsor . Moreover, PRO services include Resident and Employee Visa, Labor and Immigration Cards, Labor Quota applications, Investor/Mission/Family Visas, Offshore Passes (CICPA), transfer of sponsorship, Emirates/Qatari ID Card. Furthermore, other services include Corporate Secretarial services, HR Services, Corporate Governance, Legal Document Attestation, SPC Approvals, Engineering Classification, CICPA Passes, and Special Purpose Vehicles. All of which aims to provide a hassle-free process for foreigners to start their business in the UAE.
Ms. Wong proceeded with information about company formation as there are various structures to consider when setting up a company from the mainland such as; Limited Liability Company (LLC), branch office, trade office, professional license, and free zones. There are factors to determine what solution is best such as types of activity on the license, which clients the entrepreneur plan to work with, how many employees the company plan to have and etc. One of the main concerns regarding company formation structure is deciding between LLC and Branch Office, which also depends on certain factors similar to the previous ones. LLC allows more flexibility for certain activities such as trading and real estate. In terms of ownership, it requires a 51% local sponsor whereas a foreign branch is 100% owned by the investor and requires a national service agent. However, government costs can be higher for a foreign branch and there is a requirement to submit a bank guarantee in the amount of AED 50,000 . The bank guarantee is against any future liabilities of the branch and will remain with the life of the branch until it is canceled or re-registered of the branch.
Some of the current updates of the mainland include the e-trader license, which allows UAE residents to set up a license without the requirement of a local sponsor or a national service agent and with a reduced cost. This update is very ideal and cost-effective for single business owners looking to set up a license to sell professional services and products, either on social media or websites. The e-trader license does not require an office space; meaning business owners can work from home to promote and sell products and services. However, there are some limitations regarding trading of physical products and goods. Those activities are available for GCC nationals only, whereas non-GCC nationals can sell professional services only such as web design and advertising services.
In terms of the company formation process, the PRO Group can assist with all that is required; the service includes assisting with overseas document attestation, advising on incentives currently offered, applying for chosen corporate name and business activities, working with Counsel on the preparation of constitutional documents, legalizing documents at the Notary Public and Collection of the licenses. Regarding document attestation, it includes legal translation of documents, notarization, legalization by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA), and Embassy attestation. In terms of executing the documents, it can proceed online so once the documents were agreed, the document approval could be carried out via Webex in Abu Dhabi. Also, now it is possible to carry out the notary in-person. Besides the set-up of the company, PRO Group can support additional requirements to help the business get running such as managing the visa process for employees and other secretarial services.
Next, Libbie Burtinshaw, Operations Manager of PRO Partner Group talked about recent updates in terms of government departments, travel restrictions, and visas across Dubai and Abu Dhabi. In Dubai, the notary is executed in person whereas in Abu Dhabi, both online and in-person would work. Dubai’s notary executions are easier because there is no pre-approval required, unlike Abu Dhabi. Currently, most government departments are open, however, not necessarily fully functioning. Although, since 5th of July 2020 it was announced that 100% of federal government staff were to return to their office. Government department opening times are back to what they were pre-COVID yet some departments do close earlier. Some notable changes in government processing are with the MoFA as they have changed their operations. In-person attestation has been stopped, an online application must be made, next the payment is done and then the documents are sent via impost for completion and then returned within 5 to 7 working days. Ms. Burtinshaw emphasized that they are not sure if MoFA will revert to in-person attestations. In Abu Dhabi, PRO Group is not able to have visa stamping done directly at immigration. Instead of in-person, they have to submit documents through empost and then they take around 5 working days to be sent back. However, Dubai’s visa stamping currently can be done in-person. Also, in terms of travel restrictions, there are still limited travels into Abu Dhabi yet other Emirates are a lot easier to travel around. Most changes implemented because of COVID-19 have been reversed with regards to the government office closures; however, social distancing is still to be maintained.
Regarding Abu Dhabi and Dubai visa, it is not possible to apply for a new employment visa for somebody who is outside of the UAE. In addition, outside country visa applications and mission visas being applied are stopped currently. Visas that were expired after the 1st March and up until the 12th of July 2020, they were auto extended until the end of the year. However, residents who are currently in the UAE and their visa is expired from after the 12th of July are expected to renew it within three months of expiration whereas those who are currently outside of the country will have to renew their visa within one month from the day of return to the country. Also, approvals are necessary for those who are outside of the UAE in order to return here. For Dubai visa holders they have to apply online application through GDRFA, whereas for Abu Dhabi and other Emirates it is through ICA. Anyone who was inside the UAE on a tourist visa either had to extend before the 10th of August or change of status to a new visa or exit; otherwise, fines would have occurred from the 12th of July. In terms of traveling outside of the UAE, if someone is traveling to their home country and have less than six months on their visa this will not be a problem as long as they return before their visa’s expiry date. However, if visa holders are traveling somewhere other than their home country then it will depend on the destination country as some countries expect to see at least six or three months on the visa. Regarding traveling into the UAE and quarantining, currently residents must download either the Dubai smart app or the al Hosn app and self-quarantine for 14 days at their home or at a designated facility. In Dubai, there is a quarantine declaration to be completed and submitted on arrival, which acknowledges a 14-day quarantine period. However, Ms. Burtinshaw stresses that all the information she has mentioned is subject to change with little or no notice based on COVID-19 updates.
Afterward, Ms. Wong has continued the presentation about free zone company formation. Comparing to the mainland, the free zone allows 100% ownership with no requirement for a local sponsor or a national service agent at an affordable cost. Currently, there are around 40 different free zones across the UAE and specialized in different sectors including media, communications, logistics, IT, trading, and manufacturing. Below is a screenshot of the pros and cons of the free zone company.
Next, Ms. Wong talked about Dual Licenses which enable free zone companies to extend their business to the UAE mainland market while operating from their free zone office without the need to rent a second office in the mainland. Regarding recent updates, there has been a stimulus and discounted packages for new incorporations, relief measures for existing businesses, no requirement for attested documents in certain free zones, and lease promotions. Finally, she mentioned how COVID-19 in fact sped up the process with the use of technology.
The webinar proceeded with Q&A.
About PRO Partner Group
Without the support and services of an experienced, trustworthy and proactive partner, establishing a business in the Middle East can be a complex, time consuming and even daunting process. For international companies wishing to set up in the UAE or Oman (and the law firms who represent them), our promise is clear.
We will remove that complexity, minimise that time and eliminate that stress. PRO Partner Group is the leading Company Setup, Local Partnership and PRO Service provider in Abu Dhabi, Dubai, the wider UAE, Oman and Qatar. We provide a dedicated corporate local partnership platform for companies, ensuring the foreign party retains full security and control of the local business. https://www.propartnergroup.com/
The Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi organized webinar on In-Country Value (ICV) 3.0 in collaboration with Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) and Baker Tilly on 27 July 2020. Mr. Rami AbuLaila, Vice President of Business Development in ADNOC and moderator for the webinar has started with introducing and thanking the participating companies and guest speakers. The guest speaker, Mr. Hamad Saif Belmahaina, ICV Development Manager of ADNOC has started his presentation by introducing the objectives of the ICV certificate.
The three main objectives were Emiratization in the private sector, GDP diversification, and supply chain localization. In order to verify the enhanced program of the ICV, ADNOC has asked for market feedback from suppliers through surveys. Afterward, the participating entities have reviewed the surveys and validated the given suggestions. Next, to align the ICV certificate it required management approval. Lastly, the implementation has occurred which took communication and a specific framework. More importantly, the aim of the updated ICV was structured based on the market and suppliers' concerns. Mr. Belmahaina has also introduced the In-country value parts, which are certification and implementation. He elaborated on the difference between them saying that the certification process is unified between all participating entities where suppliers need to issue one ICV certificate that can be used in ADNOC, Abu Dhabi Ports, Al Dar Properties, and Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. In contrast, the implementation process is unique at each entity level hence the achievement of the certificate for the participating entities is in accordance with their policy. There are different names for the implementation program and method of using the certificate, which are ADNOC’s ICV Program, ADP’s ICV Program, ALDAR’s ICV Program, and ADLC Program. Next, the speaker mentioned some key changes in the ICV formula and the certification process.
Mr. Belmahaina discussed changes in the ICV formula saying that it consists of five attributes; Manufacturing cost & third party spend, investment, Emiratization, Expat contribution, and bonus. The first change in the ICV formula is that for both manufacturers and service providers the ICV cost going to be measured against the total cost instead of revenue. The second change is regarding the progressive investment top-up, which is now divided into three slabs; the first slab is from 5 million (M) AED to 50M AED that’s to get from 0% to 5%. The second slab is from 15M AED to 100M AED whereby suppliers get a top-up of 15%. Also, an investment of above 150M AED by suppliers would make them eligible for a 15% top-up. The last enhancement which is regarding bonus; suppliers’ years to year growth net book value as measures against their previous net book value. According to Mr. Belmahaina, there were also eight key changes in the ICV certification process based on the given feedback. Firstly, ICV is now based on the international reporting standards IFRS and must be audited by a licensed auditor of the ministry of economy. Secondly, an entity with its branch in the same Emirate with identical activities and ownership is now eligible for one combines ICV certificates. Thirdly, any payments by suppliers that go for the government through Tasheel or Tadbeer would grant them 100 ICV credit and this applies for free zone entities too. Fourthly, if the UAE mainland suppliers companies purchase from each other they receive 10% ICV certificates without having the certificate itself. Fifthly, instead of employees’ headcount, the focus would be on the employees’ average. Sixthly, for Emiratis who own their firms, they can get the Emiratis credit but they need to be registered with WPS and have a valid contract with the Minister of Human Resources and Emiratisation (MOHRE). Seventhly, the internal cost is now excluded from the calculations except for deprecation cost which will be given 100% ICV credit. Lastly, certificate validity is now 14 months from the issuance of the audited financial statements or the issuance of new financial statements-whichever is earlier.
Afterward, Mr. Belmahaina has mentioned four steps on how to get the ICV certified: first suppliers must issue IFRS based audited financial statements and have it approved by the ministry of the economy auditor, secondly they must fill in ICV submission template as per the guidelines in the website, thirdly, they should approach one of the employers' certification bodies as they are authorized to grant them the ICV certificates. Finally, once the ICV certificate is received, they can submit it in the commercial bids with any of the following four entities; ADNOC, Al DAR, Abu Dhabi Ports or Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development. More importantly, the only companies that can grant valid ICV certificates are ARDENT Advisory & Accounting, Bakertilly, EY, KPMG, PWC, Protiviti, Deloitte, MAZARS, MB, PKF, Crowe, and TAG-Audit. The guest speaker concluded with expressing his willingness to hear any suggestions or concerns from the audience.
The webinar continued with Q&A on ICV certification toward Mr. Salman Sajid, Executive Director and ICV Practice Leader in Baker Tilly.
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About Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC)
Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC) is one of the world's leading energy producers, and a primary catalyst for Abu Dhabi’s growth and diversification. ADNOC operate across the entire hydrocarbon value chain, through a network of fully-integrated businesses, with interests that range from exploration, production, storage, refining and distribution, to the development of a wide-range of petrochemical products. For over 46 years, ADNOC have played an integral role in Abu Dhabi’s economic development, managing, producing and preserving the Emirate’s hydrocarbon reserves on behalf of the Abu Dhabi Government. ADNOC are the principle catalyst of growth in the Emirate, and our work has had a positive and lasting impact on the quality of millions of lives. Since 1971, ADNOC have created thousands of jobs, driven the growth of a diverse knowledge-based economy, and played a key role in Abu Dhabi’s global emergence. Today, ADNOC continue to look for new and innovative ways to maximize the value of our resources, pioneering those approaches and technologies that will ensure ADNOC are able to meet the demands of an ever-changing energy market, and continue to have a positive impact on the Abu Dhabi economy for generations to come.https://www.adnoc.ae/en
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The Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi organized the first virtual meeting of the Communities of Interest (COI) – Oil and Gas Sector chaired by Dhia Hussain, Director and Head of Business Services in CBC Abu Dhabi with three invited panelists in the oil and gas field. The guests were Dr. Patrick Allman, CEO of DanaGas, Michael Mezei, Business Partnership Manager of Packers Plus, and Julian Lambert, General Manager of Copperleaf Technologies ME. The meeting held on 20 July 2020.
Mr. Hussain has introduced the panelists and the main discussion points on the agenda regarding recent and future oil prices, upstream production status, and oil refiner’s situation. He started the discussion with an announcement made by Wood Mackenzie Company saying that this year the money spent on upstream is decreased by $130 billion comparing to the pre-crash view outlook on investment and will cut further by 530 billion up to 2025. Besides, foreign direct investment is estimated to decrease by 50 billion because of project delay and cost-efficiency measures. Mr. Allman responded to Mr. Hussain's statement with the recent trend of the oil barrel price. In April the price of oil reached 20 dollars which is a two-third reduction in the actual price. Hence, such trends have had a big impact on the oil business; they were forced to adjust the capital expenditures of the year by 75 percent, delay projects, cut operating costs by 20 percent, and decrease manpower by a third to make up on some of the financial loss. Also, he emphasized that depending on the flexibility to get staff and supplies they may postpone upstream activities such as drilling even beyond 2021. Moreover, Mr. Mezei mentioned how travel restrictions have limited the field specialist to run their jobs which resulted in slow operations and unbalanced working hours for some of them.
On the other hand, Mr. Lambert expanded on the sustainability aspect of the oil business saying that “sustaining aging assets is about growing production on existing plants”, having capabilities of new technology and new security and enabling operators to optimize that space so they maximize the return on investment. He suggested that having a powerful software solution driving that space would provide benefits to manage unexpected crises such as the COVID-19. Mr. Hussain then started to discuss studies regarding the downstream saying that according to FG Energy jet fuel demand has fallen by 23 percent because of flight restrictions. “UAE alone accounts for more than 30 percent of jet fuel oil consumption” which is 2.5 percent of the global demand on refineries. Meanwhile, refineries are shifting to gas and diesel oil if this continues longer. Mr. Hussain asked the guest speakers on how to improve the refineries process. Mr. Allman focused on demand related issues since this was his field of expertise saying that the demand for jet fuel might not come back as it was last year much before 2024. Alternatively, the demand level might never return as it was in the last year since people got used to the remote meetings. Therefore, traveling for business purposes is going to decrease if people continue with remote methods which naturally going to reduce the demand on jet fuel almost permanently. However, traveling for tourism purposes is likely to make up on that reduction in fuel demand once a vaccine is approved and everyone is immune from the Coronavirus. In his opinion, gas and diesel have a fruitful future since currently people in China specifically prefer to take private vehicles-which consume gasoline- over public transportation. In addition, corresponding to Mr. Hussain after question about the future of renewable energy, Mr. Allman emphasized that the possible high demand on gas in the future is because of its low cost, however, the climate change debate is taken seriously by governments hence there is also a future with “stimulus for renewable energy supplies going forward”.
Mr. Hussain moves the discussion mentioning Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) trend with reducing its production since 2016 by 5.2 million barrels per day but also having the issue with supply excess in the market. He then asked the guest speakers on shale oil fundamental development based on these facts. Mr. Allman responded saying that shale manufacturing will not be stopped unless the price of oil goes lower than 50 dollars per barrel. Hence, once the price of oil started to decrease significantly this year the US shale production started to shut down. Yet, according to him shale oil production is controllable and will be back once the price of oil returns to at least 50 dollars per barrels. More importantly, he mentioned how the price of oil in the future is unpredictable and might continue fluctuating because of issues with breakeven cost per share versus fiscal breakeven cost for the major oil producers. Mr. Hussain continues the discussion by asking Mr. Lambert on how can oil suppliers service companies plan their budget to sustain their business. Mr. Lambert suggested developing the company value framework link strategy to quantifiable metrics whereas each metric enables them to value each project in a different dimension. For instance, a project might aim to reduce production risks and another project might reduce safety risks hence together these two add value for the company in different dimensions. However, there are some project constraints to consider such as money, people's availability, and shutdown times. More importantly, companies have to “apply powerful optimization algorithms to reduce the budget while still maximizing returns”.
The meeting was concluded with live Q&A from the participants.
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The Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi organized a webinar on the outlook of the hospitality sector post-covid in collaboration with Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Abu Dhabi. The webinar took place on Wednesday, 15th of July 2020 with Mr. Elias Chakhtoura, the General Manager of the Fairmont Bab Al Bahr Abu Dhabi. Mr. Chaktoura was invited as the guest speaker to talk about the state of the hotel business and hospitality industry in response to the COVID-19 epidemic. Mr. Awais Chughtai, the Relationship Manager in CBC Abu Dhabi welcomed the participants, thanked CBC Abu Dhabi’s partnering councils, and introduced the guest speaker.
At the beginning of the webinar the guest speaker, Mr. Chakhtoura has mentioned about the trends regarding hotel booking from February till June. According to him, they started to receive international booking cancellations by February and domestic cancellations by March. Those trends affected their business significantly since it was the time of the high season for the tourism industry. Things got worse when Corona cases existed in few hotels, which led some to temporary shut-down. However, with the support of Culture and Tourism Department and the health authority guidance helped their business to deal and cope with such a crisis. Some of the major changes in their industry was testing the employee for COVID-19 every two weeks while taking strict hygiene measures. In April, the business state was a little better since some groups such as workers were staying in hotels because of travel restrictions. By June, domestic tourism revived a little with the ease of visiting and lockdown restrictions. Currently, hotel resorts with beaches are profiting more than city hotel and he expects that their business will at least survive the next three months but not beyond that. Also, according to the Mckinsey survey, 49 percent of people are still anxious to travel whereas 43 percent are anxious to stay in hotels, which increase the health and safety measures in hotels. Another major trend is last-minute bookings since a lot of people are uncertain about their traveling plans. Besides, most people prefer hotels with outdoor activities since it feels safer than indoors crowded places.
Mr. Chaktoura continued that due to coronavirus, different initiatives and procedures are being applied in the hospitality industry. Some of the initiatives are ALLSAFE program and virtual medical assistance for visitors and employees. Moreover, main procedures such as wearing a mask, self-service parking, limited restaurant capacity, contactless payment, social distancing, temperature checking, and rapped blankets are few essential practices they integrated into the business. More importantly, Mr. Chakhtoura believes that the hospitality industry is resilient and will survive this epidemic since people cannot lock themselves for too long and will need to socialize and overindulge at some point. And once situations become more safe and stable people often will travel and attend social events. Finally, some main qualities about the business to attract and satisfy the visitors are increased booking flexibility, safety, good price, and adjustment based on customers' expectations. Mr. Chughtai shared his experience as a customer in one of the hotels and how it felt unusual yet assuring.
The webinar was concluded with live Q&A from the participants.
About Fairmont Bab Al Bahr
The hotel features 369 contemporary and spacious guestrooms and suites, Fairmont Gold, highlighted by one of the largest lounges in the city against a staggering backdrop of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, world class on-site amenities, including private sandy beaches, an Olympic-length swimming pool, and state-of-the-art conference facilities. Additionally, Fairmont Bab Al Bahr boasts an impressive portfolio of 10 award-winning dining outlets, ranging from casual poolside dining to world-class gourmet fare. https://www.fairmont.com/abu-dhabi
The Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi organized a webinar titled Exponential Crisis Needs an Exponential Response, Thriving in the Future . The webinar took place on Tuesday, 14th of July 2020, with keynote speaker and co-founder of the Xponential platform, Mr. Tariq Qureishy to talk about the importance of futurist thinking in response to current epidemics. Mr. David Laliberte, the Executive Director – Legal of Digital 14 and moderator of the webinar welcomed the participants, thanked CBC Abu Dhabi’s partnering companies, and introduced the guest speaker.
The guest speaker, Mr. Qureishy emphasized at the beginning of the webinar on the importance of trust, which comes with harmony, empathy, and ethics. He introduced the current trends with the COVID-19 epidemic, which include fear, isolation, and insecurity of individuals and companies. In his opinion, the biggest epidemic is “misinformation, disinformation and too much information” which we find in social media. Hence, trust is an essential element to preserve the future and keep the world moving. He mentioned the 2009 financial crisis and how during the next ten years many new companies were founded such as WhatsApp, Snapchat, and Pinterest. Therefore, his theory is that with the current crisis there is a chance for even better innovations and companies to initiate in the next ten years. Exponential technologies are the trending ones currently for the future. Some exponential technologies are AI, nanotech, Bitcoin, robotics, and medicine, which are expected to accelerate by doubling their growth continuously. More importantly, when these technologies are being digitalized at some point they will also be demonetized and so their value will be reduced significantly allowing a possibility for energy, food, and water to be free in the future.
Mr. Qureishy advises people to think like futurists by designing around abundance rather than obsolete through continuous development and transformation. He also mentioned examples of such futurist thinking such as drones, which can carry 51,200 kilograms objects and ambitious visions of involving the health care industry in Apple, Facebook, and Amazon companies by 2030. More interestingly, he mentioned how human creativity decreases from 95 percent in childhood to 10 percent in adulthood mainly because of negative factors such as fear of failure and societal perception. Mr. Qureishy concluded his presentation saying how values such as love, harmony, and empathy cannot be digitized which makes them more valuable than any existing technology and innovation. More importantly, with current epidemics people should not worry as long as they recognize their “true values, true feelings and they look forward in the future”.
About Xpontential
Xponential Talks is a unique video and audio podcast platform that focuses on exponential stories of the future. They intercept futuristic stories bringing it to the present. Their platform is complemented & powered by their partner MAD Group’s memorable archived stories. https://xponentialtalks.com/
https://www.mad.group/mad-stories
View the recording HERE.
The Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi organized a joint webinar in collaboration with Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) and Abu Dhabi National Oil Company (ADNOC), with the participation of several other business councils. The webinar took place on Monday, 18 May 2020 and covered ADIO’s mandate to support business growth in Abu Dhabi, and ADNOC’s In-Country Value (ICV) 3.0 certification process. Mr. Dhia Hussain, Board Director of CBC Abu Dhabi and moderator of the webinar, opened by welcoming and thanking the participants and speakers for attending.
The first phase of the webinar featured a presentation by H.E. Dr. Tariq Bin Hendi, Director General of ADIO. His Excellency complimented the Abu Dhabi government’s unwavering support of the private sector and confirmed that ADIO is keen on taking part in such initiatives. His Excellency discussed how Abu Dhabi has proven its position as a business growth hub and has become a gateway to the world’s fastest growing economies, and expressed ADIO’s various programs that promote, attract and facilitate investment opportunities in the capital. With its commitment to innovation-led growth through the private sector, ADIO has implemented a holistic approach to business backing through their investor care services that provide investors with end-to-end support during the business set-up phase. ADIO also offers a range of cash and non-cash incentives to support businesses growth. Concluding H.E. Bin Hendi’s presentation, participants were given the opportunity to ask questions.
The second phase was a presentation by Mona Ahmed Balalaa, In-Country Value Operations Manager of ADNOC and Hamad Saif Belmahaina, In-Country Value Development Manager of ADNOC. Ms. Balalaa reiterated the objectives of the ICV program on Emiratization, the diversification of the UAE’s GDP, and supply chain localization. The UAE has adopted a single ICV certification process across all participating entities, which include ADNOC, the Department of Economic Development, ALDAR and Abu Dhabi Ports. As the officials explained, companies can utilize this unified certification process, however, implementation is subject to each entity’s implementation program and method of using the certificate. This new ICV formula has resulted in reducing manufacturing costs and third party spend, increasing investments, and other bonuses. There are a number of key changes in consideration such as financial and credit factors, which were explained at length. The process of getting an ICV certificate remains the same, where suppliers can approach any of the twelve certifying bodies.
About Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO)
The Abu Dhabi Investment Office (ADIO) is the central government hub supporting investment in the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. We are committed to the growth and diversification of Abu Dhabi’s economy through the private sector. ADIO enables opportunities for domestic and foreign investors aligned with Abu Dhabi’s economic priorities. We support investors and businesses with innovation at the core to help ensure long-term, sustainable success in the market and across the region. At our core is our Investor Care services, supporting the establishment and ongoing growth of businesses in Abu Dhabi. We also offer a range of targeted programmes for private sector entities including competitive cash and non-cash incentives, SME enablement and Public-Private Partnerships. www.investinabudhabi.ae/en
The Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi organized a webinar in collaboration with Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) on how HCT is transforming into a digital campus, held on 12 May 2020. Mr. Brij Bali, Vice Chairperson of CBC Abu Dhabi and moderator of the webinar has started the session by introducing the topic and the guest speaker, Dr. Alex Zahavich, Chief Academic Officer of HCT.
Dr. Zahavich started the presentation with background information about HCT saying that there are 16 campuses across the seven Emirates, more than 23,000 students, faculty from over 80 countries, and 30 start-up companies growing from capstone projects and applied research. The view of the college aims for graduates to get academic credentials with job offers. Dr. Zahavich mentioned a quote by Steve Podborski, a Canadian downhill ski racer, saying, “I have no time to think about the future when I have the present to contend with”. In his opinion, this is relevant to the current epidemic as everyone is busy trying to deal with the present hence there is barely time to think about the possible future. He emphasized on the fact that HCT was prepared for such a situation as online classes immediately occurred by March when things got more serious regarding the Coronavirus. After spring break, they started to sanitize the sixteen campuses and were completed in five days. Also, the management team started to work from their homes where they had to create a discipline system to ensure effective work completion. By 22 March 2020, the second part of the spring term has continued with online classes until May 07 May 2020. The online delivery process helped to serve 23,000 students to stay on track and no credentials were compromised. In addition, over 75,000 classes were delivered which received more than 85% satisfaction from the students and the faculty. He mentioned how the online method helped shy students to participate more often. Also, all 70 programs and courses were updated with revised assessment strategies. More importantly, the Cumulative Grade Points Average (CGPA) calculation was revised to incentivize course completion while aligning with Ministry of Education (MoE) guidance.
The guest speaker mentioned some alternative assessment strategies established for theory-based examinations, practical examinations, and projects. For instance, some theory-based exams were open-book but timed online, some practical exams where online open-book assessments and some projects were submitted digitally with a presentation. The summer term was expanded with more course options and provided opportunity for students to enroll in more diversified courses. The term online plan aimed to open up to two summer semesters for program completion, deliver all courses online, and additional courses with equivalency for work placement credit were included. Dr. Zahavich has mentioned some statistical facts about the online experience as 84 M minutes of teaching was delivered, 1,500,000 successful student logins and 100,000 successful faculty logins. The medium used for delivering the classes was left for the professors to decide what is best for students but most of them used Blackboard Learn. Dr. Zahavich also mentioned three types of industry-related work placement opportunities, which are: on-site work placement, off-site work placement, and alternative to work placement. The options were modified as there was still on-site work placement with some institutions such as ADNOC. In addition, there were 30 startup companies hiring students to grow their companies and some students were researching from home or freelancing.
Dr. Zahavich talks in regard to the student experience and says there is a 50 to 50 stance for online and in-person preference. That is because students still miss the social aspect of their learning experience. Hence, the HCT effort in recreating these social part was through e-sports and e-life skills programs. More importantly, to ensure that everyone stays on track financial aid was granted for students who lack internet access and laptops at their homes.
Regarding the support services all operations were based on working from home, campuses were deeply cleaned, no delay in financial transactions, recruitments of staff continued as usual and invitation by RoSPA UK was granted to deliver best practice webinar. About the current health concerns, Dr. Zahavich discussed ventilator splitters designed by HCT using Selective Laser Sintering (SLS) to increase the efficiency of ventilators in the health care sector. Lastly, he talked about what the future holds and in his opinion the general value of getting a credential and a job would not change, however, the delivered content cannot be fully online as most students need an in-person application to become qualified, they need to address students psychological social needs, acknowledge how some faculty teach at inconvenient times because of time zone differences and review facilities as to match the possible futuristic trends such as job loss. Hence, HCT is central around the entrepreneurial and creative foundation to help the students prepare for futuristic possible changes.
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About the Canadian Business Council Abu Dhabi The Canadian Business Council Abu Dhabi (CBC) promotes business relations, commerce and investment between Canada and the UAE with a particular focus on the Emirate of Abu Dhabi. We provide opportunities for Canadian business executives in the UAE to meet on a regular basis and to exchange information about business opportunities. As a link with organizations in Canada, CBC Abu Dhabi is dedicated to the development of trade and corporate investment between Canada and the UAE and assist Canadian companies and business people who are establishing or contemplating to establish a trading base in this country. www.cbcabudhabi.com
About Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) Founded in 1988, the Higher Colleges of Technology (HCT) is the UAE’s largest applied higher educational institution, and the nation’s first approved university economic free zone, empowering it to graduate companies in alignment with the directives of the UAE’s wise leadership. Over 23,000 students attend 16 men’s and women’s campuses in Abu Dhabi, Al Ain, Al Dhafrah region, Dubai, Sharjah, Ras Al Khaimah and Fujairah. Female students constitute 63% of the student body, which reflects the HCT’s key role in preparing Emirati females to contribute effectively to national development in the service of their country. Since 1991, the HCT has proudly awarded over 72,000 academic degrees to male and female graduates who have succeeded in applying the quality education gained during their study in HCT.
In 2019, the UAE’s 50-year leap came to fruition in the guise of a new direction for the Higher Colleges of Technology, with the launching of the HCT 4.0 – Employability & Beyond strategic plan, based on the directives of HH Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, UAE Vice President, Prime Minister and Ruler of Dubai. Learn more about HCT Strategy.
By: Maryam Almansoori, Intern, CBC Abu Dhabi
The Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi in collaboration with the Embassy of Canada in the UAE organized “A Conversation with UAE Space Agency (UAESA) Director General, H.E. Dr Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, and Canadian Space Agency (CSA) President, Mr. Sylvain Laporte” on Wednesday, 20 March 2019 at St. Regis Saadiyat Island. The event gathered delegates of the UAESA, CSA and Global Space Congress and members of CBC Abu Dhabi.
H.E. Masud Husain, Ambassador of Canada to the UAE
H.E. Masud Husain, Ambassador of Canada to the UAE gave a welcome remarks and spoke of the growing relationship between Canada and the UAE and their collaborative efforts in space exploration.
Gregory Zoughbi, Chairman of the Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi
Gregory Zoughbi, Chairman of CBC Abu Dhabi welcomed and introduced the honored speakers, noting on CBC’s role in promoting business relations, commerce and investment between Canada and the UAE through its Communities of Interest (COI) initiative.
From left to right: H.E. Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director General of UAE Space Agency, Sylvain Laporte, President of Canadian Space Agency, and Mustafa Alrawi, Assistant Editor-in-Chief of The National
Mustafa Alrawi, Assistant Editor-In-Chief of The National opened the discussion by how the investment in space will benefit different sectors such as energy, construction, education, media and others; and what opportunities it may have to offer to society.
It was a historic moment for the UAE when it launched its first Emirati-made satellite in 2018. H.E. Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director General of the UAE Space Agency spoke of how this vision came into reality because of the country’s dedicated leadership who foresaw the future of this nation as well as the region. The UAE’s space program has various initiatives such as hosting the Global Space Congress and teaming up with different countries, such as Canada, with the same passion for space exploration.
Canada has been exploring the space for decades. Sylvain Laporte, President of Canadian Space Agency spoke of the many lessons learned throughout this program. One of these is, a country cannot do space exploration without the international collaboration. Mr. Laporte expressed how the UAE, with its space agency’s short time of existence, is able to achieve great milestones.
The topic on Canada’s commitment to the Lunar Gateway by providing smart robotic system was also discussed wherein Mr. Laporte explained how this system will work and how Canada has taken advantage of the technologies from the two Canadarms. There are many sectors and investment funding involved keeping this project ongoing.
Mr. Alrawi concluded the informative discussion stating that UAE and Canada have driven inspiration for the youth to get involved in space initiatives. UAE and Canada encourage innovation, commercialization and diversity in space.
From left to right: Gregory Zoughbi, Chairman of the Canadian Business Council (CBC) Abu Dhabi, Sylvain Laporte, President of Canadian Space Agency, H.E. Dr. Mohammed Nasser Al Ahbabi, Director General of UAE Space Agency, and Mustafa Alrawi, Assistant Editor-in-Chief of The National
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About the Canadian Space Agency
The Canadian Space Agency, established in 1989, is responsible for coordinating all government-funded space activities in Canada. Some of the CSA's more high-profile projects include its robotics, most famously the Canadarm and Canadarm2. http://www.asc-csa.gc.ca/eng/Default.asp
About the UAE Space Agency
The UAE Space Agency is a federal agency that was created under Federal Law by Decree No. 1 of 2014. The space sector includes all projects, activities and programs related to outer space. The Agency is focused on the development of policies, strategies and plans related to the space sector that are approved by the Council of Ministers. https://www.space.gov.ae/Home/Index
About the Global Space Congress
The Global Space Congress, hosted by the UAE Space Agency, is a strategic gathering of global space industry leaders. Promoting the worldwide industry of space, the Congress brings together over 600 key space agencies, commercial space, academia and end users of space services to evaluate the biggest opportunities in the space sector and to get exposure to the world’s most vibrant and energetic new space programmes. Focused on partnerships, the Congress enables these leaders to focus on collaborative development and the implementation of core space and satellite technology strategies, bringing global and regional economic benefits. https://www.globalspacecongress.com/
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